CC Minutes - 02/09/09 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

3. ACTION: Ratification of Intergovernmental Relations Committee Actions and Direction on Legislative Policy on January 28, and February 4, 2009 Intergovernmental Relations Manager Brenda Wilson explained that four bills had been pulled for review at the meeting of the Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations (CCIGR) held on January 28, and two bills had been pulled at the meeting held on February 4. She reiterated that current CCIGR operating agreements required that direction on legislation be unanimous before the City could take a position on a piece of legislation. She indicated that she would review them one at a time. Senate Bill 192 Ms. Wilson explained that this was a Governor’s bill introduced to create a historic property partial tax exemption. She said the exemption would be in place for 15 years with a possibility for renewal. She noted that City staff members, Senior Management Analyst Larry Hill and Urban Services Manager Richie Weinman, had recommended a Priority 2 Oppose position because any tax exemption that was enacted took money out of the General Fund that could be utilized for other projects. She related that Councilor Taylor wished to change the standing on the bill to Priority 2 Support because she was concerned about the diminishing numbers of historic properties in the City and in the state. This had resulted in a 2:1 vote. She noted that the bill had not had a hearing to date. House Bill 2052 Ms. Wilson explained that this was an interim committee bill from the Human Services and Women’s Wellness Committee that would require governmental entities that wanted to establish specific facilities to obtain advice from a subcommittee within the jurisdiction. She said this had arisen from two instances within the state in which a lockdown residential treatment facility had been sited in cities without notifica- tion. She related that City Attorney Jerry Lidz had been neutral on the bill; he had thought it could legally make the siting of these facilities easier. Councilor Taylor had wanted to monitor the bill and this had resulted in a 2:1 vote. She stated that the bill had a hearing, had been in the House Judiciary Committee, and was sent without recommendation to the House Committee on Human Services where it would receive another public hearing. House Bill 2184 Ms. Wilson said the bill would establish a goal for the beverage container return rate for the State of Oregon. She related that this had come out of a recommendation from the Bottle Bill Task Force, created by the Legislature in 2007. She explained that the goal would be for an 80 percent return by 2015 and would expand the type of beverage containers that would be considered returnable to include distilled liquor, wine, sports drinks, juice, tea, coffee and any other similar non-carbonated drink. She stated that it would increase the refund value for containers from 5 cents to 10 cents. She added that it had recommended that an advisory committee be set up to look at statewide-run redemption centers, to be paid for by the industry. She said the staff members that had provided input were Solid Waste Management Program Manager Ethan Nelson and Sustainability Manager Felicity Fahy and they had suggested adopting a Priority 3 Support on the bill. She reported that Councilor Ortiz had moved to change this to Priority 1 Support and Councilor Taylor had voted in opposition. MINUTES—Eugene City Council February 9, 2009 Page 5 Regular Meeting